(19)
(11) EP 1 443 384 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
19.01.2005 Bulletin 2005/03

(43) Date of publication A2:
04.08.2004 Bulletin 2004/32

(21) Application number: 03258191.0

(22) Date of filing: 23.12.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 1/26
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 30.12.2002 US 334966

(71) Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
Santa Clara, CA 95052 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Gunther, Stephen H.
    Beaverton Oregon 97007 (US)
  • Ma, Matthew M.
    Portland Oregon 97229 (US)
  • Dai, Kevin
    San Jose California 95131 (US)
  • The other inventors have agreed to waive their entitlement to designation.

(74) Representative: Molyneaux, Martyn William et al
Harrison Goddard Foote 40-43 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1JA
London WC2A 1JA (GB)

   


(54) Dynamic voltage transitions


(57) The operating voltage of an integrated circuit (e.g., a processor) is changed in response to one or more conditions (e.g., a laptop computer is connected to an AC power source). Both the operating frequency and the operating voltage of the integrated circuit are changed. The voltage regulator providing the operating voltage to the integrated circuit is caused to transition between voltage levels using one or more intermediate steps. The integrated circuit continues to operate in the normal manner both at the new voltage and throughout the voltage transition.






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